Alabama Crimson Tide’s Legacy
The Alabama Crimson Tide is poised to reclaim the dominance they once held under Nick Saban, although memories of his teams often seem quite formulaic.
Saban brought home six national championships during his remarkable tenure in Tuscaloosa, and it might take some time before future teams can truly step into those significant shoes.
Reflecting on Saban’s best squads, it becomes a bit tricky to distinguish one from the other.
Recently, there was a list of the top 25 college football teams from the past 25 years, and, unsurprisingly, five teams from the Crimson Tide made the cut.
The top-ranked team was the undefeated squad from 2020, which featured Heisman winner Devonta Smith and a flawless SEC record. They were ranked third overall, coming in behind the legendary 2001 Miami Hurricanes and the 2019 LSU Tigers. If they were to match up against either of those teams, they could certainly hold their own.
Interestingly, the highest-rated team is Saban’s last national championship-winning squad, while his first team in Alabama, the 2009 group, also made the top 10.
It’s hard to imagine now, but Mark Ingram was the first-ever Heisman winner for Alabama, and three others have followed suit since then. That season culminated in the Tide’s Rose Bowl victory, marking their first national championship since 1992.
The 2009 team sits at 8th on the list.
Further down, at Nos. 14 and 15, are the teams that secured back-to-back titles under Saban, with the 2012 team at No. 14 and the 2011 team at No. 15.
AJ McCarron led the Tide in 2011, where they avenged their lone loss to LSU by defeating them in the title game. They rebounded from a shocking defeat to a Johnny Manziel-led Texas A&M team, won the Georgia SEC championship, and dominated Notre Dame for the national title.
Saban also made the list with the 2015 team, ranked at No. 25. This squad featured Jake Corker as quarterback and Heisman winner Derrick Henry as a key player on offense. Widely regarded as one of Saban’s strongest defensive teams, Alabama defeated Clemson in the first title matchup, fueling a fierce rivalry in college football.
Interestingly, the 2017 team, despite being part of this legacy, is the only title-winning team that fell short of certain heights. They suffered a loss in the Iron Bowl and didn’t reach the SEC title game, requiring some luck to make it into the playoffs. However, once there, they certainly never looked back.
